Locker-refrigerator.



R. L. TILGHMAN.

, LOGKER RBFRIGERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 213.21. 1908.

938,620. Patented Nov. 2,- 1909. n Z'SHQEBTSfSHBBT 1.

k q Q `Q u ANDREWA a. GRAHAM Pnomuuocmwzns. WASHINGTON. n c.

R.. L. TILGHMAN.

LOGKER RBPRIGERATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB.21, 190B. 938,620. Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

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RoswELL LEE TILG'HMAN, or BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

LOCKER-REFRIGERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed February 21, 1908. Serial No. 416,966.

T o all 'whom fit may concern:

l refrigerators having a plurality ofindependent compartments for storing bottled stimulants and other liquid or food products.I

The primary object of the invention is the provision in a stationary refrigerator of a plurality of drums provided with radial compartments and mounted therein so as to be independently movable with respect to each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a refrigerator having superposed and independently movable compartments, each provided with a door for gaining access thereto, said doors of the compartments, respectively, having individual locks, so that each of said compartments or lockers is accessible only by the person who is possessed of the particular key of its lock.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a refrigerator having a plurality of independently movable refrigerating compartments, and an ice chamber or similar refrigerating means substantially surrounding the compartments and within close proximity thereto.

Wit-h these and other objects in view the invention, for example, consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described andillustrated, which disclose the preferred embodiment of said invention, however, it is to be understood that such changes, variations and modifications may be made as come properly within the scope of the claims hereunto appended, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings r-F igure 1, is a front view of the refrigerator. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4, is 4a top `view of one of the independently rotatable locker drums having the radial compartments, the same being partially in section. Fig. 5, is a sectional view of one of said rotatable compartments or lockers.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings the numeral 2, designates the outer casing of the refrigerator which comprises front and back walls 3, and 4, respectively, and walls 5, a bottom 6, and a top 7, which are constructed preferably of wood, however, may be of any suitable material as found desirable. In the front wall 3, are hinged doors 8 and 9, the latter door communicates with a refrigerating chamber 10, formed by a circular wall y11, which is of corrugated iron to increase its refrigerating surface. Intermediate the wall 11 and the outer casing 2, is an' inner circumferential casing 13, which is preferably of galvanized steel. Said inner casing 13, is braced by brackets as 14, which are connected to the latter and the outer casing 2. The space 15, between said inner casing 13, and the circular wall 11, forms an annular ice receiving cell which is adapted to contain crushed ice, so as to thoroughly cool the chamber 10. It also acts to carry o the drainage from the upper ice chamber, which water passes out through the bottom into the bottom of the main refrigerating chamber. Said inner casing 13, extends upwardly within close proximity to the top 7, of the outer casing and terminates in a supplemental top or wall 16, the latter being spaced from the said top 7, to provide a space 18, for receiving a packing 19, such as saw-dust, cork, etc. Said inner casing at the opposite end is provided with an inclined bottom 20, which conducts the drainage water to a drain pipe 21, leading to the exterior of the outer casing 2, so as to drain off the melted ice water to prevent said ice cell from becoming overcharged therewith.

At the upper end of the circular wall 11, is a covering 22, forming a base upon which is mounted strips 23, producing a rack for supporting blocks of ice. The space intermediate said cover 22 and the supplemental top 16, forms an ice chamber 24, which is accessible through the door 8, for introducing vthe ice blocks or the like cooling medium.'

Centrally of the chamber 10, is a vertical shaft 25, the latter being mounted in bearing .plates or collars'26, and 27 connected to the covering 22, and the bottom 6, respectively. Mounted upon the shaft 25, at suitable distances apart are independently rotatable drums 27, the latter having radial partitions 28, forming locker compartments 29. Each compartment has a door 30, hingedly connected as at 31, to the annular wallA 32, ofv the drum. Said drums are shown as composed of upper and lower disks 33, and 34, which are connected to the annular walls 32, by' suitable` fasteningsk such as rivets and also the partitions 28, are in like manner connected to the said disks.

Centrally of the disks 33, and 34, in each drum 27, is a hub 36, having a peripheral band 37, connected thereto and to the disks 33, and 34, which band 37 forms a medium to fasten the end portions of the partitions thereto, and also an inner wall for alternat ing compartments. Said hub 36 surrounds the shaft 25, and' is provided with an annular race-way 33 for receiving a plurality of ball-bearings 39, which frictionally contact with a collar 40, the latter being xedly held on the said shaftrQ' by a pin 41 passing transversely through the same and the collar, so as to hold itin position on the shaft. The doors 30 and the partitions 23 are provided with a plurality of circulation openings 42, or the partitions may be constructed from wire mesh cloth. Furthermore, the top disk 33 of each drum is provided with openings 43 which allow the cold air to circulate through the compartments, thereby keeping the articles stored therein fresh and cool. The top may also be made from wire mesh.

Immediately below the inclined bottom 2O is an annular block 44, which forms a support for the walls 11 and 13, and prevents the downward sagging of the same, and which is mounted upon the bottom 6 of the refrigerator casing. The inner sides of the supplemental top 16 and the bottom. 6 are provided with a lining 45 and 46, respectively, preferably of sheet galvanized steel. To brace the wall 11, and the inner casing 13', are brackets 47 which hold the wall and casing spaced from each other. The doors 8 and 9 of the refrigerator casing 2 are provided with locks 43 and 49, respectively.

Between the outer casing 2 and the inner casing 13 is a packing of saw-dust, cork or other suitable material, as 50, however, any other non-conducting material may be used if found more desirable.

The design and arrangement of the refrigerator may be variously modified without departing from the gist of my invention, which consists in the inclosed arrangement ofV multiple compartment drums which are independently rotatable.

Having described the invention, what I claim is 1. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a carrier movably mounted inA the casing and containing a plurality of individual compartments, separate doors for each compartment, spaced annular inner and outer walls between the carrier and saidV casing, and concentrically arranged with respect to the axis of said carrier to formy air circulating spaces, a disk ymounted at the upper edge of the inner wall to provide an ice chamber at the upper portion of the casing, a channeled bottom secured to the lower edges of saidk wallsv to form a water receiver' for the ice chamber, and a door for said casing.

. 2. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a plurality of spaced movable carriers within said casing, and containing a plurality of individual compartments, separate doors for each compartment, spaced annular inner and outer walls between the carriers and the casing, and concentrically arranged with respect to the axis of said carriers to form air circulating spaces, a supporting plate se,- cured to the upper edge of the inner wall to provide an ice chamber at the upper portion of the casing, a channeled bottom secured to the lower edges of said walls to form a water receiver from the ice chamber, the walls of each compartment being exposed to the refrigerating medium circulating within the casing.

3. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a Vplurality of spaced carriers movably mounted within the casing, and containing a plurality of individual compartments, separate doors for each compartment, spaced annular inner and outer walls between the carriers and said casing and concentrically arranged with respect to the axis of said carriers to form air circulating spaces, a supportingr plate secured to the upper edge of the inner wall to provide an ice chamber at the upper portion of the casing, a channeled section secured to the lower edge of said walls to form a drainage receiver for the ice chamber, each of said compartments being surrounded on all sides by perforated walls.

4. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a plurality of spaced carriers movably mounted within the casing and containing a plurality of individual compartments, spaced annular inner and outer walls between the carriers and said casing and concentrically arranged with respect to the axis of said carriers to form air circulating spa-ces within the casing, a supporting plate secured to the upper edge of the inner wall to provide an ice chamber, a channeled section secured to the lower edges of said walls to form a drainage receiver for the ice chamber, each l'of said compartments being surrounded on all sides by perforated walls, and lock carrying doors for the compartments.

5. A refrigerator comprising a casing7 a shaft journaled centrally therein, a plurality of collars fixed .to the shaft and spaced from each other, each collar containingv an annular raceway concentrically arranged with respect tothe said shaft, hubs loosely journaled on the shafts and having spaced parallel lfn'ges, drums secured tothe anges of said hubs, radially disposed partitions within each drum forming individual compartments therein, ball bearings between the hubs and said collars and movable in the raceways in the latter, the walls of said oompartments containing a series of openings, spaced annular inner and outer walls arranged between the drums and said casing to form air circulating spaces therebetween, a supporting plate secured to the upper edge of the inner wall to form an ice chamber at the top of the easing, and a channeled bottom secured to the lower edges of the inner and outer walls to form a water receiver for t-he ice chamber.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROSWELL LEE TILGHMAN. Witnesses:

ANNm L. PEACE, R. D. JOHNSTON, Jr. 

